MrsK's K-8 Books Worth Reading

my best-reads-for-k-8 shelf:
MrsK Books's book recommendations, liked quotes, book clubs, book trivia, book lists (best-reads-for-k-8 shelf)

Sunday, April 29, 2018

Diary of a Snoopy Cat by R.F. Kristi

Diary of a Snoopy Cat (Inca, #5)
R.F. Kristi
ISBN: 9781979036085
Publisher's Synopsis:
Read the hilarious and breathtaking antics of Inca and her family of furry friends as recorded through the eyes of Inca a Siberian Kitty. Inca decides to start a Diary! A heart-pounding saga unfolds as she keeps the reader thrilled recording her detective exploits. When Inca and family move to London from Paris, they make a whole new set of friends, including Monk, a Blue Russian cat and Terrence, a Golden Retriever who ably and bravely assists his world-famous detective owner, Solo. Inspired by the adventures of her new friends, Inca sets herself the task of becoming the world's best cat detective and begins to keep a diary of her exploits. When Monk arrives one evening, with news of a meeting to take place later that night, Inca is excited and can't wait to attend. She is told of a perilous journey that must be undertaken by Solo and Terrence, who are to travel to the Himalayas, to search for the missing Raoul, a friend who had failed to return from an expedition. The departure of Terrence means that Inca can take on her first proper job; the baffling incident of Mr. Finchley's missing will. But does the young cat have what it takes to crack the case and save the tormented and ferocious Rottweiler - Boss? And can she do it without the help of the wily old Retriever?

MrsK's Review:
Meet Inca a Siberian kitty who has no challenge with proclaiming her strengths, as well as her intelligence. One December morning, Inca begins a journey writing about her family, friends, and what she has accomplished during her day. Yes, she is writing about her daily life! And, it is a good thing that she is because the "bully" of the neighborhood is in need of help. 

Imagine spending every waking moment terrorizing the neighborhood, keeping them from coming close to your space and suddenly learning that your owner is about to lose everything because some human has absconded with a piece of paper that could save all that belongs to his owner.

Inca is determined to become the "world's" smartest cat detective, so when the "bully" of the neighborhood was in need it meant that she would be needed. Since she was the best detective, she would lead Solo's detective agency in recreating the night when Boss' will went missing.

Written with much humor, strong characterizations, and many escapades this story will delight many beginning readers. The font is perfect for those adventuring into chapter books. The illustrations provide the "unwritten" clues into the personalities of each character. The settings and story line has a realistic mood which will provide the right combination for reader engagement and desire to experience another mystery with Inca.

A definite addition to any 2nd grade classroom shelf,
MrsK
"Are we real detectives now?" asked Polo."
Great fun for any beginning detective...
Inca Book Series

Meet the Author:
R.F. Kristi, the author of the Inca book series is a former professional of the United Nations Children’s Fund and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. She holds a doctorate in economic development and has traveled and lived in various countries of the globe. With a deep commitment to animal rescue efforts, Kristi has a keen interest and love for animals. She created the Inca Cat book series for younger readers up to age 8 or 12 and also animal lovers. Kristi currently resides in Colombo, Sri Lanka.

Tuesday, March 6, 2018

Open a World of Possible by Lois Bridges

Open a World of Possible: Real Stories About the Joy and Power of Reading
ISBN: 9780545799935
Publisher's Synopsis:
This anthology of true-life stories by some of America's leading literacy advocates, authors and poets celebrates the joy and power of reading. Informed by the great pleasure that they derive from their own reading, these innovative thinkers are dedicated to helping young people discover and create their own rich lives as readers.

MrsK's Review:
This book is a perfect read for every educator and librarian. Author's discussing their favorite reads. Author's supporting reading environments at home. Author's recalling their cherished moments with book titles that all of us have experienced or will experience right away.

This is a book to pick up when you are just browsing to pass the time in line, in a office waiting room, on a night when you just can't sleep. It is a book to own, because you will not have enough yellow stickies for all of the great titles, yes, you will need to write in the margins and star those titles that you want to experience for the first time or be so touched by their recall you want to revisit an old friend.

With all the books on your "keep" shelves... You should invest in this delightful find!

MrsK

golden,star,christmas,favourite,bookmark
Amazing read 
Added to my shelf!

Meet the Author:  Dr. Lois Bridges, former teacher, teacher educator, and literacy publisher, promotes editorial and marketing initiatives for Scholastic’s Classroom and Community Group. She’s intrigued with language: how it develops and serves as our most potent learning tool.
Image result for scholastic logo

Last Stop in Brooklyn by Lawrence H. Levy

Last Stop in Brooklyn (A Mary Handley Mystery, #3)
ISBN: 9780451498441
Publisher's Synopsis:
It's the summer of 1894, and an infidelity case has brought PI Mary Handley to a far corner of Brooklyn: Coney Island. In the midst of her investigation, Mary is contacted by a convicted man's brother to reopen a murder case. A prostitute was killed by a Jack the Ripper copycat years ago in her New York hotel room, but her true killer was never found. Once again it's up to Mary to make right the city's wrongs.

New York City's untouchable head of detectives, Thomas Byrnes, swears he put the right man behond bars, but as Mary digs deeper, she finds corruption at the heart of New York's justice system, involving not only the police, but the most powerful of stock titans. Disturbing evidence of other murders begins to surface, each one mimicking Jack the Ripper's style, each one covered up by Thomas Byrnes.
As Mary pieces together the extent of the damage, she crosses paths with Harper Lloyd, an investigative reporter. Their relationship grows into a partnership, and perhaps more, and together they must catch a killer who's still out there, and reverse the ruthless workings of New York's elite. It'll be Mary's most dangerous, most personal case yet.

MrsK's Review:
Mary Handley mysteries have been such a delightful reprieve from many of the books I review. Once you get to know Mary, her quick wit brings a smile to your adventure. She is a brilliant and relentless pursuer of the truth and there is no villain that she can't best. Even though she is hired to find out the truth about a certain cheating husband, she quickly gets involved in solving a killing that closely resembles those of Jack the Ripper. If she decides to re-investigate the case of the man who went to prison for a killing years ago, will she be able to reopen the investigation and put the real killer behind bars? Can she get past those officials whom quickly put a possible innocent man in jail? Will she be the real killer's next victim?

Russell Sage is high end businessman that is demeaning, calculating, and only focused on his well being (investment deals or steals you choose). Will he deserve the threats that cause him to look over his shoulder?

Inspector Thomas F. Byrnes is hailed as a "giant in his time." This man is such a player. Respect for his office has been exchanged for his keeping the elite living a life style that isn't always legal. He is one of the most sleezy and slippery guys on his force.

Harper Lloyd is a "smug reporter," who just happens to cross Mary's path in quite a comical and unfortunate moment. He quickly learns that Mary has quite the talent for getting into predicaments that ensures a rapid fire exchange with words. These two have encounters that will lead them beyond their quips and into a "life-threatening" investigation.  

Written with strong characters, excellent setting details, and a story line that is historically defined are the strengths for this series. What was a bit unsettling for this reviewer, was the additional language and sexual explicit scenes. 

You decide if Mary's third investigation is your next choice, personally I would start with the first two...
MrsK
Good Mystery with a some language/sexual aspects.
Second Street Station (A Mary Handley Mystery, #1)     Brooklyn on Fire (A Mary Handley Mystery, #2)
Meet the Author:
Lawrence H. Levy LAWRENCE H. LEVY is a highly regarded film and TV writer who is a Writers Guild Award winner and a two-time Emmy nominee. He has written for various hit TV shows such as Family Ties, Saved by the Bell, Roseanne, and Seinfeld. Last Stop in Brooklyn is his third novel in the Mary Handley Mystery series.
"I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review."

Penguin Random House

Wednesday, February 21, 2018

A Time to Stand by Robert Whitlow

A Time to Stand
ISBN: 9780718083038
Publisher's Synopsis:
Adisa Johnson, a young African-American attorney, is living her dream of practicing law with a prestigious firm in downtown Atlanta. Then a split-second mistake changes the course of her career.

Left with no other options, Adisa returns to her hometown where a few days earlier a white police officer shot an unarmed black teen who is now lying comatose in the hospital.

Adisa is itching to jump into the fight as a special prosecutor, but feels pulled to do what she considers unthinkable—defend the officer.

As the court case unfolds, everyone in the small community must confront their own prejudices. Caught in the middle, Adisa also tries to chart her way along a path complicated by her budding relationship with a charismatic young preacher who leads the local movement demanding the police officer answer for his crime.

This highly relevant and gripping novel challenges us to ask what it means to forgive while seeking justice and to pursue reconciliation while loving others as ourselves.
"Everything we do, and believe, and pray
doesn't stop when the breath leaves out of our bodies...
It travels down through time until everybody
but the Lord loses sight of it."
MrsK's Review:
Your heart breaks for Officer Luke Nelson as he struggles with the hopelessness of a trial. His family is trying to maintain an appearance of normalcy, yet how can an officer of the law move forward when there are so many voices in opposition to his quick response on that near fatal night. His wife Jane is standing in faith that Matthew 10:26 will bring forth the truth and clear her husband's name.

Is there any doubt that a mother's heart can pray a child through the darkest moments of life? Well for Mrs. Armistead it will be a grandmother's heart who will be praying her grandchild, Deshaun, through. As a mighty prayer warrior, this seasoned warrior will give witness to the truth of forgiveness. 

Aunt Josie is in the hospital and Adisa will be answering the call to be at her bedside even though she is in the middle of negotiating a legal case for her law firm. What Adisa was unaware of was that her law firm would be changing and she would be representing Officer Luke Nelson. For Adisa, this change will usher in her heritage. She will face the truth of about prejudices, the truth about her Christian roots, and the truth that God's hand at work is mightier than any deception.

Campbellton is a town that becomes torn between the races. It will need prayer intercessors who have strong roots in faith to keep from becoming one of those towns consumed with hatred. Those cloaked in faith will need to "suit" up for the battle that is brewing. Will false-hooded deceivers bring an innocent man to "justice?" Or, will the town have the scales removed from their eyes by the hand of God?

With a scenario we witness all over our nation, these characters are so well defined they become real life prayer warriors that you would want on your side!
MrsK
"James, did you hear what the preacher said on Sunday
about the sins of the fathers landing on their children
to the third and fourth generations of people?"
golden,star,christmas,favourite,bookmark
 A chilling story that could be played out
anywhere in today's US!
Meet the Author:
Robert Whitlow Robert Whitlow is the best-selling author of legal novels set in the South and winner of the prestigious Christy Award for Contemporary Fiction. A Furman University graduate, Whitlow received his J.D. with honors from the University of Georgia School of Law where he served on the staff of the Georgia Law Review. A practicing attorney, Whitlow and his wife, Kathy, have four children. They make their home in North Carolina.
"I received this book for free from the Fiction Guild for this review."
Thomas Nelson

A Place at Our Table by Amy Clipston

A Place at Our Table (Amish Homestead #1)
ISBN: 9780310349013
Publisher's Synopsis:
Along with his volunteer work at the local fire department, running his Amish farm keeps Jamie Riehl busy. He barely has time to eat at the family table, never mind find someone to date. But when he meets Kayla Dienner, he is smitten.

Kayla tries hard to deny her attraction to Jamie. After all, she’s spent the last year discouraging her younger brother, Nathan, from becoming a firefighter. The death of their older brother in a fire a year ago is fresh in her mind—she can’t bear the idea of putting her heart on the line every time the sirens blare.

Then tragedy strikes, and Jamie wants to extinguish any flame between him and Kayla. Can Kayla set aside her own fears to save the love she was determined to deny?

The first book in the Amish Homestead series, A Place at Our Table invites us to a quiet community in Lancaster County where love burns brightly no matter the cost.
"He needed to go back to his firehouse
and mind his own business."
MrsK's Review:
Even though Kayla is in a season of protecting her heart, there is one man that has entered her life and softened her resolve. Just when Kayla realizes that this man, in whom she knows is too painful of a reminder about her brother's death, begins to soften her heart, Jamie begins hurting her with past shadows of distrust. Will she "see beyond" those shadows and receive her blessing of a life shared with a man chosen by God or will she block her future because those shadows are hovering too closely to her heart.

Jamie Riehl convinced that there is no room in his life for a girlfriend, for romance, or for any distractions. Once his life becomes shaken my the tragic death of his mother, Jamie is determined that his responsibilities must remain focused on his families farm and his calling as a firefighter. Yet, with in every season of change Jamie will be faced with his hidden reasons for staying too busy for a relationship that might lead to the love of his life. Many of us know the struggle of wrapping our heart in self-deception, for many of us it can take a life time to overcome grief. The inevitable crossroad will arise and Jamie will need to choose occupying his life with saving others or saving his own future.  

Sometimes you just need to read a trusted author,
Sometimes you just need a "dash" of hope,
Trusting that this book journey will bring a few moments of goodness,
MrsK
"Lay your burden's at God's feet.
He will heal your heart."

Always an inspiring and wholesome journey
 with any of Amy Clipston's stories.
Meet the Author:
Amy Clipston  Hi, I’m Amy Clipston. I am an author of Amish and Christian fiction with HarperCollins Christian Publishing. Most of my books focus on the Amish community, faith, and love. I also write romance novels and young adult inspirational stories.
"I received this book for free from the Fiction Guild for this review."
Thomas Nelson

MrsK's Reading Bio

Reading is important! No questions asked, not even a blink of the eye from any student I grew up with. On the first day of the First grade, we were given our first books. Day two we all read aloud, round robin of course. Day three we were place in our first basal, now known as a lit circle group. Books were so important, publishers designed new curriculum so that every student was reading by the end of the first week. These early readers had images that looked like what we could see in the classroom, beyond the classroom, even on the big screen. Reading is important, throughout history every generation has believed that “Reading” opens up the world for endless possibilities.

I adore the 1950’s Dick and Jane books. Actually, most reading specialists and experienced (45+) educators believe that every student learned to read with Dick and Jane. Since these books are being re-issued, I have heard many parents, grandparents, and students claim that Dick and Jane stories of repetition does teach students to read.

Early influences from my mother influenced my desire to read. I would watch her read and we would go on “secret” excursions to the library. The library became my playground. I owned every book I could carry home, of course they needed to be taken back to their home after visiting with me for a week or two. My first book that I could pull off of the library shelf and read was, Father Bear Comes Home. I only saw my dad on Sundays for a few hours. I would pull this beginning reader off of the library shelf every week. Every week I would try to read the first chapter. Every week I got further in the story. My mom would let me check it out, only if I could read it myself (She didn’t like the illustrations therefore she didn’t want to take time to read it to me). One day, I pulled the book from the shelf and when mom came to get me from the children’s corner, I realized that I had read the whole story. I ran to the check out desk and the Librarian KERCHUNKED the checkout card. My mother, brother and neighbors read. My teachers read. We all read aloud all day long in school. The Priest read aloud every day at mass, even in Latin. Everybody in the Doctor’s office read. People on the bus read. Dad’s waiting in their cars as the Mom’s and children grocery shopped, read. In fact, once you could read and write, Sunset Magazine considered you a reader and sent you mail every day.

Reading is important; I’ve spent my life reading. I’ve traveled around the world and into space through books. My favorite genre is whichever book I have open at the time. Children’s Literature is my passion. Book clubbing is one of the best past times, especially if food is involved. In fact my friends of old are in a book club and we are about to embark on a beach trip to “read” and discuss our newest selection.

My “home-run” book story has helped every student find his or her own “home-run” reads. Every year, I have shared my, Father Bear Comes Home, and every year my students have brought in their “home-run” books. That’s the “diving board” into our Lit. Studies.

In “Growing Up Digital,” Tapscott’s insights into the new generations enthusiasm for the Net reminded me of my generation’s enthusiasm for reading, movies, TV, parties and our driving permits. The Net-Generation, as Tapscott describes, “are learning, playing, communicating, working, creating communities, and enforcing a social transformation.”
N-Geners are interactive “techies” who are always looking for a way to “work it” verses the TV Generation of “Baby Boomers” who started out looking for “how it works.” Reading development is tougher today, society moves too fast to invest their “non-working” free time into a book or even “home work.” Since I stepped into my own classroom, I have seen students being told to read, being forced to read, and threatened into reading. Homework is not any longer the vehicle for students to gain their future lifestyles or careers with. Yet, the Internet does create an enthusiasm for learning. Since I have been enrolled in these courses, I have used the computers in every subject. My students are using the newest technology in the classroom because I am giving them investigative sites to use as they learn from each other and books. I agree with Tapscott, in order to bridge the gap with this up and coming generation we must “live and learn with them.”


FTC Required Disclaimer: I receive these books from the publishers. I did not receive monetary compensation for these reviews. These reviews have been posted in compliance with the FTC requirements set forth in the Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising (available at ftc.gov/os/2009/10/091005revisedendorsementguides.pdf)

2014

Traits of Writing: Inking Thoughts

Booked 4 Success: Inspired Learning